By ANNA USHER

The Union Hotel, in pursuit of extended trading hours, has pitched a 3am closing time with North Sydney Council.

The iconic pub has stood on the corner of Pacific Highway and West Street for more than 150 years. Last May, the new owners quietly obtained a 3am liquor licence from the state.

Council approval now remains the final step.

The Union is currently permitted to trade Monday to Saturday between 10:00 am and 12:00 am, and on Sunday between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm.

Under the new plan, trading hours will be stretched from 10:00 am to 3:00 am Monday to Saturday, and on Sunday from 10:00 am to 12:00 am.

What 3am actually looks like

Don’t expect a rave.

After midnight, the DA allows background music only – no DJs, no live acts. All windows and doors must remain sealed. Patrons leave via Pacific Highway only.

Architectural plans show the ground floor and southern facade have been upgraded with thick laminate glazing, and an acoustic report from Pulse White Noise Acoustics, dated 11 March 2026, found that noise levels at the hotel were 2 decibels below the permitted night-time limit of 47 dBA.

Where the Union fits in

Not many North Shore pubs are still open past midnight.

Neighbouring venue, the North Sydney Hotel, has the same hours as the Union, while the Rag & Famish closes at 3:00 am Wednesday to Saturday and midnight Sunday to Tuesday.

Further north, the Crows Nest Hotel closes at 4:00 am Wednesday to Saturday, midnight on Sunday, and 3:00 am on Monday and Tuesday.

History

The Union Hotel opened in the 1870s and was once a sprawling Victorian corner pub with iron lacework verandahs over two storeys.

After its demolition in November 1938, it was replaced by the Art Deco building designed by Sydney architects Prevost and Ancher. As the Union Hotel awaits a decision on its late-night trading hours, it looks set to reshape North Sydney’s nightlife for years to come.